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Craig Gordon believes Sunderland could beat Liverpool on Wednesday

Former Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes the Black Cats could claim a surprise win at Liverpool on Wednesday.

Last Updated: 29/03/14 3:43pm

Gordon: Cats could cause shock

Gordon, who featured for the Wearside club from 2007-12, played his last competitive match in April 2012 as a persistent knee injury temporarily forced him out of the game.

The Black Cats are battling to avoid relegation this season and have not won a match since their defeat of Stoke on January 29.

However, gaining three vital points against the Reds at Anfield would move them level on points with 17th-placed Crystal Palace with a game in hand.

And Gordon, 31, who became the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of British football in 2007 when Sunderland paid Hearts £9m for his services in August 2007, thinks the game will also provide a good chance for Black Cats shot-stopper Vito Mannone to impress against first-class strikers.

"I would be looking forward to it as a chance for a goalkeeper to pull off a few saves and I think everybody expects Mannone to be busy tonight so it's a chance for him," Gordon told Sky Sports News.

"There's no pressure on Sunderland so they can go out and give it a go and try and get something as I don't think anybody expects it and Mannone can try and make a few saves against some of the best strikers around at the moment.

"Their chances are very slim but that could work in their favour. Going back to the Capital One Cup final recently, nobody expected them to do anything and they put in a very good showing first half, but they haven't scored enough goals this season.

"They are struggling for strikers tonight so that is going to be a problem, especially when Liverpool will take one or two chances at the other end so they have to try and sort that out. But the pressure is off them so they might spring a surprise and put in a better performance."

Gordon is also planning a return to the game after being back in training for the past three months and he is now looking for the right club to rejuvenate his career.

"I've been working very hard to try and get back to fitness and I'm pretty much there now," the 31-year-old added.

"I've been in full training for the past three months in Scotland and it's going really well so I'm looking to get back into football at the earliest opportunity.

"I feel that I'm fit and able to do so now so it will be a case of trying to find the right club and trying to get to where I was.

"An injury that takes that amount of time is very difficult but it's an added incentive to get back now after almost having to stop playing.

"It rejuvenates the hunger and makes you want it that little bit more so when I do get back to playing games, it will be a nice fresh challenge and one I can't wait to start."